I was in love with this book from the first page. The author's illustration style is one that speaks to me, and generally speaking, that's a pretty good indication of how the rest of the book is going to go.

This did not disappoint.

I loved that it wasn't as basic as other books in this genre. Instead of focusing on the absolute beginner, Ward went for the informed beginner, or intermediate draw-er. (Which is what I'd consider myself, so it was perfect for me.) There are sections on tools and such for those who aren't as confident, but she focuses on just a few mediums -- pencil, ink, and watercolor -- and every chapter revolves around those three. From architectural drawing to drawing animals, there are short but informative chapters with easy to follow exercises.

I learned a ton from this book, and since I've been doing this for a while, this says something about how good it is. I love that it's not so specific that the easily-distracted will get bored (draw ten thousand trees!), but not so general that it's just tips (draw in pencil first! Duh.). It's not technical, so you don't feel like you're reading something dry and flavorless, but not so fluffy you feel like you're learning nothing. It's just a great mix.

This is easily one of the better books I've seen in recent years. I'm looking forward to adding to my shelves, and using it.

The book starts off like many others, with a list of tools and some basic instructions about drawing using shapes. However, what I really liked was how an array of basic techniques were shown, from types of pen markings and shadings to fun techniques like drawing with a continuous line and drawing quickly to create gestures. This sets you up really well to be open-minded to different illustration techniques.

Fab read. Could not put down. Highly recommended to all. Believable characters. Great author. Will be watching out for more titles.

Modern drawing will be a great book for drawing enthusiast and beginners . It explores various medium and tools used in the drawing........

I didn't get chance to download this in the allotted time - I was too busy! I have however had a look at it now and love it! I am thinking of buying it after looking through. I love teh way it is laid out, the illustrations and the fact that it is a comprehensive guide to drawing!

Modern Drawing is a great book if someone is trying to begin drawing or to reconnect with it. I really liked how the author explains the various drawing techniques and also provides wonderful tips.

A wonderful approach to art and its making, and a very useful guide for beginners as well as inter-mediates. A bit of a long read, that contains a plethora of information, tips, and techniques.

This book was a lot of fun and left me want to pick up my tools and go outside and draw! It is also really simple and easy to understand, and a good enough place to start for beginners too, although it doesn't go into details when it comes to proportions or perspective. It gives you just enough to make a good sketch!

But the point of this book is having fun drawing and exploring and capturing on paper the outside world - there are tips and tricks, and it is full of inspiration and motivation to get anyone to start a traveling sketchbook!

Ward's approach to Modern Drawing was charming and easy to follow. I think beginners could enjoy this without being daunted and intermediate artists would still appreciate her approach to instructing on technique.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a very good book for a beginner or intermediate artists focusing on drawing. This book gives a good introduction to the supplies you will need and step by step instructions for drawing. I found the section on shading very helpful.

I would recommend this book to any beginning or intermediate artist. Great for practice at any level.

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'Modern Drawing: A playful and creative exploration of drawing and illustration for mixed media artist and other creative types' by Chelsea Ward was a completely inspiring book about just getting out and drawing.

From a discussion of portable tools to take on trips near and far, to techniques to add color, this book was very approachable. The discussions of different mediums like pencil, ink and watercolor made sense, especially when accompanied by the author's drawings. There are chapters on breaking down drawings for scenery, plants, people, and animals.

The drawings vary from loose to detailed, depending on the amount of time the author can spend on a subject. I like the idea of keeping a sketch diary of trips, and I fell inspired to draw more based on this ebook.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

If you're interested in learning to draw, this book gives you all of the necessary basics in a simple and readable style. Ward explains everything from the tools needed, to styles and specifics about how to draw people, animals and everyday objects in a simple, readable way with easy to follow images. This simple book is all you need to get started drawing, or re-connect with art after some time away.

A very good drawing book for beginners, using modern tools (graphite, coloured pencil, ink, watercolours, felt pen) and combining them. Simple exercises to begin to draw without fear: furniture, a bycycle, plants, food, architecture, people, everything! It helps to unblock creativity and invites the reader to draw every time and everywhere, no excuses. Ideas for travel sketching. Lovely drawings, very enjoyable book.

I enjoyed this a lot! It covers some of the basics about different techniques, like color pencils and watercolor, but then moves on to explain how to draw topics like animals, plants, landscapes, people... A nice mix of tutorials and artist tips

This book is brilliant, I loved it. The variety of techniques and the selection of projects to try were perfect. Everything was pitched at just the right level and I really felt inspired to have a go at many of them. I will definitely want a hard copy of this book. Beautifully illustrated with just the right amount of instruction. Perfect for any beginner artist, as you can produce excellent results right away. One of the best art books I have seen in a long time. Thank You

Modern Drawing: A playful and creative exploration of drawing and illustration for mixed media artists and other creative types by Chelsea Ward is a fabulous art book. This is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary.
I really enjoyed this book! It shows a variety of art techniques, tips, and instructions. It covers animals, plants, architecture, and so much more. It also has some step-by-step in there too. It covers color and black and white. Nothing is really in depth or the book would be gigantic but it covers enough to give the reader a taste and a bit of knowledge of each area. I was very pleased with the book. I found it helpful in my budding hobby.

Modern Drawing
Chelsea Ward
I love this book! It was an amazing drawing book. The examples we're very helpful and descriptive. The artist tips were so helpful and actually work. I really enjoyed the theme of the drawings and all the places she traveled. She used some beautiful colors. She had easy steps on how to draw many different things from flowers to people to place and many other things. I really enjoyed this book of modern drawing.

My family is artistic. I also consider myself creative, but the drawing gene skipped me. Unlike three of my four siblings who took advanced art classes in high school and beyond, I stopped in junior high, when it ceased being a required class. I enjoyed art, but my high school class requirements filled up quickly, and the art classes I was interested in had prerequisites I didn't have time for. My claim to fame in junior high was my art teacher telling me I was a natural with my charcoal figure studies.

This is all to say that I enjoy art, but I am not a natural at creating it. Enter Modern Drawing. This book engaged me. There are great details, what I imagine my siblings gained from classes in high school and college. Chelsea Ward tries to focus our attention, that when we notice objects, they can all be broken down into basic shapes. How we should notice where the weight is and what areas get the light.

Ward then shares resources and terminology, but she's quick to say she started with a basic pencil and paper; readers are encouraged to use whatever they have and not put off beginning until they have identical materials.

My older daughter is gifted at drawing, and she has amassed a collection of drawing books. However, this book is a step above, a natural stepping stone from those helpful beginning texts. In those copies, there's one way to draw an object. In this text, though, Chelsea Ward is preparing her readers to have an artistic eye to analyze what they see and translate it to paper. She does regular studies to walk us through her steps, but with her text, she lays out WHY she is doing each step so that we can internalize it for ourselves.

This book is visually appealing and I was captivated by it. All of her drawings caught my eye, but my favorites were her studies from travels (a page full of bicycles, or pigeons, or vases). I can see this book appealing to those with bullet journals who aspire to creativity but need some guidance, although . And I suspect it's only a matter of time until I start some pages in my bullet journal to test my newfound confidence (perhaps with the applicable pages of this book open next to me in the beginning).

This is a book I want to add to our home library, although I'm going to have to make sure my daughter understands she doesn't get to claim it for her own -- we're going to share this one!

This is a book about taking small steps through a journal to gain knowledge and confidence in yourself and your artwork. It is fun, informative and instructional - starting from the very basic of equipment, colour, drawing everyday simple things such as a cup or a lemon. Slowly moving up to paint, perspective, landscape and more ending with the knowledge that by practice, care and a will to trying one can learn to draw.

I love drawing it has been one of my favorite pastimes since I was a child. I find it super relaxing and enjoyable. So when I saw this book up for grabs on NetGalley, I just knew I had to request it. The book is divided into the following chapters...

-- INTRODUCTION (Supplies, Drawing Basics. Mark-Making & Line Work, Keeping a Sketchbook, and Drawing on the Go).
-- ADDING COLOR (Color Tools, Color Techniques).
-- STILL LIFE & EVERYDAY (Drawing The Everyday).
-- ARCHITECTURE & SCENERY (The Basics, Drawing Architecture, Drawing Landscapes, Architectural Portrait).
-- PEOPLE & FIGURES (Figure Studies, Sketching & Adding Color).
-- PLANTS AND FOLIAGE (Getting Started, Drawing Flowers, Drawing Succulents, Drawing Potted Plants).
-- ANIMALS (Shapes & Gesture Drawing, Drawing Chickens, Drawing Cats, Drawing Dogs).

The book is chocked full of visually pleasing graphics, and the chapters are well laid out and easy to follow. There are also plenty of hints and tips to keep any artist (beginner or more advanced) interested. My favorite chapter was the one dedicated to ARCHITECTURE & SCENERY since drawing buildings and monuments is one of my favorite things to do. A close second is the PLANTS AND FOLIAGE chapter. Who doesn't like drawing beautiful flowers and plants? So really I don't have too much more to say about this one. If you love to draw then, this is a fun little book that you should take a peek at. If you know someone that loves to draw, then this would make a great present.